Aqueous alcoholic acid dye-carboxylated polymer compositions for dyeing and grooming hair

ABSTRACT

An oil-in-water emulsion capable of dyeing and grooming hair containing an acid dye, a slightly water-soluble alcohol and a water-soluble carboxy containing polymer.

United States Patent Norman Allen Rosenthal Sterling Forest, Tuxedo,N.Y.;

Donald Joseph Delano, Whippany, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 729,373

[22] Filed May 15, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] AssigneeBristol-Myers Company New York, N.Y.

[72] Inventors [54] AQI IEOUS ALCOHOLIC ACID DYE- CARBOXYLATED POLYMERCOMPOSITIONS FOR DYEING AND GROOMING HAIR 511 mu A6llr 7/12 [50] FieldotSearch 8/l0.1, 10, 93, 42 B; 424/70 [56] Relerences Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,261,754 7/1966 Peters et al. 8/10.1 3,344,031 9/1967Bartoszewiczm, 8/10.1 3,352,755 11/1967 Lerner et a1. 8/10.1

Primary Examiner-Jerome D. Goldberg Assistant ExaminerVera C. ClarkeAttorneys-William F. Moss, 111, David J Mugford and Irving l-loltzmanAQUEOUS ALCOHOLIC ACID DYE-CARBOXYLATED POLYMER COMPOSITIONS FOR DYEINGAND GROOMING HAIR This invention relates to an oil-in-water emulsioncomposition capable of dyeing polyamide and protein fibers. Moreparticularly, it concerns compositions which are capable of impartingcolor to protein fibers, such as human hair at ambient temperatures.

The solvent assist dyeing of human hair is known in the prior art. Thisis exemplified by the Peters et al. US. Pat. No. 3,261,754 whichdescribes a composition of matter that may be used in dyeing hair,comprising an aqueous liquid containing a dye and having incorporatedtherein certain organic compounds such as benzyl alcohol, amyl alcohol,and amyl acetate. The patents generally state that said organiccompounds may constitute up to about 20 percent by volume of thecomposition. With regard to benzyl alcohol, however, they suggest theuse of from 3 to about percent by volume based on the total volume ofthe composition. The optimum dyeing is said to be obtained by 4 percentby volume of benzyl alcohol.

Peters et al. also suggest that in connection with benzyl alcohol, a pH'of from 5 to about 9 is preferred. In addition, they suggest the use ofcertain emulsifying agents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, and the useof certain thickeners, such as sodium alginate.

Although the concepts described in the Peters et al. patents are usefulin hair dyeing from a practical point of view, their invention leavessomething to be desired. Thus, for example, with regard to the quantityof dye employed, they indicate the necessity of using from 0.5 to 4percent by weight of dye in their compositions. This is unelconomical,and, moreover, results in the so-called crocking" or rub-off.

The British Pat. to Gillette No., 959,132, is concerned with dyeing ofhuman hair with a dye composition containing an acid dye, together withsufficient free base to provide a pH of 8.5 to 12.5 in aqueous solution.The patentee also suggest the use of certain organic solvents in theircomposition, among which are included certain alcohols such as benzylalcohol. In addition, they recommend the use of certain thickeners intheir composition. Thus, for example, example 9 of the British Pat.suggests the use of 2 percent by weight of Carbopol 934. Since thecompositions of the British patent are highly alkaline, and since it iswell known that Carbopol 934 gets at the higher pl-ls, the compositionsof example 9 of the British Pat. is, obviously, a gelled composition.

As with regard to the disclosure of the US. Pat. to Peters et al., theinvention of the British patent to Gillette, likewise leaves much to bedesired from a commercial point of view. This is particularly reflectedin the relative lack of efficicicy in dyeing which is characteristic ofcompositions like that of the Gillette patent that is made manifest bythe relative lack of intensity in the dyeings obtained by thesecompositions.

It has now been found that very intense dyeings can be achieved withacid dyes at very low dye concentrations by dyeing them form an aqueousemulsion system containing an alcoholic hydroxy group containing organicsolvent which is slightly soluble in water, together with awater-soluble polymer containing free carboxy groups. It is alsoessential that the composition have a pH in the range offrom about 3 to4 to assure among other things that the water-soluble polymer ismaintained in a water-soluble or in an ungelled form in the composition.This composition also serves to simultaneously groom, as well as colorthe hair.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide asolvent assist dyeing composition which gives very intense dyeings atrelatively low concentrations of dye.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method fordyeing hair designed to accomplish these results.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a compositionwhich simultaneously colors and grooms hair.

Other and more detailed objects of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims.

The compositions of the present invention are oil-in-water emulsionswhich are capable of dyeing hair at ambient temperatures. They containacid dyes in the range of from about 0.05 to 0.3 percent by weight andhave a pH which is in the range of from about 3 to 4. The oil phase ofthe emulsion compositions is the internal phase and comprisesessentially a slightly water-soluble alcoholic hydroxy groupcontainingorganic solvent, which has distributed therein an acid dye. Thecontinuous phase of this emulsion composition is the aqueous phase whichhas distributed thereinthe water-soluble polymer containing carboxygroups. The environment of the composition is such as tomaintain thewater-soluble carboxy containing polymer in its free acidwater-solubleform.

The compositions of the present invention have several advantages. Thehigh degree of efiiciency with-which the dyes are utilized in thisinvention permits their use in very low concentrations. This eliminatesthe problem of "rub-off or crocking," which is characteristic of theprior art compositions. In addition, the combined use of the organicsolvent, together with the carboxylated polymer serves to leave the hairin a lustrous groomed state. Moreover, because of the relatively lowconcentration of dye, these compositions may be applied with the handsof the user, in the manner in which hair grooms are generally applied,without the danger of coloring the skin of the hands.

The dyes which are useful-for the purposes of the present invention arethe so-called acid dyes which are readily and effectively bound toprotein substrates and which are known to be medically safe. Any of avariety of these acid dyes may be used singly or in a combination. inaccordance with. the present invention. These fall into a number ofwell-known categories of dyes such as the azo dyes (e.g., monoazo,diazo, etc.); azopremetallized dyes, pyrazoline, xanthene,anthraquinone, indigoid, nitro, azine, or triphenylmethane dyes, etc. Byway of illustration there is given in the following table a number ofspecific dyes, identified by their Color Index designation, as well astheir general chemical nature which are useful herein.

TABLE 1 Name Chemical Category C.l. Acid Brown No. 44 (page 1346)Azo-Premetallized Neutral Dyes C.l. Food Yellow No. 4 (C1 [9140)Pyrazaline C.l. Solvent Orange No. 2 (CI 12100) Monouzo C.l. Acid OrangeNo. 24 (CI 20170) Diazo C.l. Acid Yellow No. 73 (CI 45350) Xanthene C.l.Acid Green No. 25 (C161570) Anthraquinone C.l. Food Blue No. 1 (Cl73015) Indigoid C.l. Food Blue No. 2 (Cl 42090) Triphenylmethane C.l.Acid Black No. 1 (Cl 20470) Diazo C.l. Acid Red No. 26 (CI 16150)Monoazo C.l. Acid Red No. 33 (Cl 17200) Monoazo C.l. Basic Violet No.10(Cl 45170) Xanthene C.l. Solvent Red No. 58(C168210) Xanlhene C.l.Acid Brown No. 44 ("page 1346) Azo-Premetallized C.l. Acid Blue No. 166(page 1302) Azo-Premetallized C 1. Acid Black No.64 (page 1400)Azo-Premeiallized Color Index. Volume 1, Second Edition,

C.l. Acid Black No. 58 age 397) AzwPremelallized C.l. Acid Orange No. 86(page 1088) Azo-Premetallized C.l. Acid Violet No. 75 age 1226)Azu-Premetallized C.l. Acid Yellow No. 114 (page 1050) Azo-PremetallizedC.l. Acid Black No. 131 (page 5-122) Azo-Premetallized C.l. Acid OrangeNo. 12(C.l. 15970) Monnazo C.l. Acid Red No. (CI 22245) Dialo C.l. AcidYellow No. 29 (Cl 18900) Munoazo C.l. Acid Blue No. 59 (Cl 50315) AlineC.l. Acid Blue No. 127 (CI 61 I35) Anthraquinone C.l. Acid Brown No.13(Cl 10410) Nilro C.l. Acid Black No. 48 (Cl 65005) Anthraquinone ColorIndex. Second Edition Supplement, 1963 As noted above, a feature of" thepresent invention is the fact that the acid dyes are used at relativelylow concentrations. Typically, they may constitute from about 0.05 toabout 0.3 percent by weight of the total composition. In the preferredform of the invention, they will comprise about 0.15 percent by weightof the composition.

Another essential feature of the present invention is that the organicsolvent employed must have only a limited water solubility. This mayvary somewhat, but in general, the water solubility of the solvent willfall in the range of from about 0.5 to 5.0 percent.

Another necessary characteristic of the solvent is that it contains atleast one free alcoholic hydroxy group. It has been found, for example,that the esterification of the alcoholic groups renders these alcoholsinoperative for applicants purposes. Accordingly, esters, such as thebenzyl benzoate, methyl salicylate or amyl acetate, are not operative inthe present invention. Similarly, it has been found that solvents whichcontain no alcoholic hydroxy groups at all are not functional in theinstant invention. Solvents, such as the hydrocarbon solvents cannot beemployed for the present purposes.

The alcoholic solvents which are appropriate for use in this inventionare further characterized by the fact that they are capable of forminghydrogen bonded structures with free carboxy groups, such as are presenton polymeric free carboxy containing materials. In this category arefound the organic alcohols which possess a limited water solubility asdescribed above.

These alcohols may be more particularly described by way of thefollowing general formula:

in which R and R are hydrogen or alkyl and R is selected from the groupconsisting of aryl (e.g., phenyl; hydroxyalkylphenyl); aralkyl (e.g.,phenylalkyl; hydroxyalkylphenylalkyl); o-alkyl; -alkylene-o-alkyl andalkyl-o-aryl (e.g., alkyl-ophenyl) in which the alkyl group has one toseven carbon atoms, and the alkylene group has from two to nine carbonatoms and the aryl and aralkyl moieties have from six to 14 carbonatoms.

Of special utility are the alcohols that can be considered ashydroxyalkyl benzenes. They can be described by the formula:

(CHDHOH kjP-KCHMOHL,

inwhichnis l or2andpis0or 1.

By way of illustrating specific alcohols that are useful for the presentpurpose, there may be mentioned linear aliphatic alcohols, e.g.,octanol-l and n-hexyl alcohol; branched c..ain aliphatic alcohols, e.g.,t-pentyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, octanol-2; unbranched chain aralkylalcohols, e.g., benzyl alcohol, B-phenyl-ethanol; and phenylpropanol,i.e., CH CH CH OH; branched chain arylalkyl alcohols, e.g., phenylmethyl carbinol, and phenyl dimethyl carbinol; xylene glycols, e.g.,l,2-bishydroxymethyl benzene; ether alcohols, e.g., anisyl alcohol.

The quantity of alcoholic solvent used in accordance with the presentinvention is also an important feature. In general, it will constitutebetween 5 to 40 percent by weight of the total composition. However, byfar, the best results are obtained when the alcoholic solvent andparticularly benzyl alcohol, constitutes to percent by weight of thecomposition. The quantity of this solvent that is employed hereinexceeds in a large degree its solubility in water. it is such that inthe absence of the carboxylated polymer, described in more detail below,two phases would normally be present. The acid dyes are far more solublein the alcoholic organic solvent than in water. Consequently, in thefinished emulsion of the present invention, the dye is contained in theso-called oil phase which comprises the alcoholic organic solvent.

As noted above, it is a feature of the present invention to incorporatea carboxylated polymer in this composition. This carboxylated polymer ischaracterized by the fact that it is soluble in water and that is has anabundance of free COOH groups. It is further characterized by the factthat it is stable in an acid medium (e.g., pH of about 3 to 4), that is,does not gel or does not precipitate out of solution. it is also acharac' teristic of the carboxylated polymer employed herein that it hasthe capability of suspending the alcoholic solvent component of thiscomposition (which is of limited water solubility) in its acidic aqueousmedium. Any carboxylated polymer which meets the above criteria can beemployed in the practice of this invention.

The importance of the free carboxy groups of the polymer used herein isdemonstrated by the fact that the corresponding ester or amide polymericcompounds are not operative for the purposes of the present invention.It is further illustrated by the fact that even among thecarboxy-containing polymers, better results are obtained with thepolymers that have a higher density of carboxylic acid groups than thosewith a lower density of carboxylic acid groups. Thus, for example, thepolymer resulting from the water hydrolysis of maleic anhydridemethylvinyl ether copolymers (e.g., Gantrez AN 119,139 or 169) is apolycarboxylic acid copolymer possessing two COOH groups per maleicanhydride residue, and one carboxyl group per repeat polymer segment.The addition of dye and phenyl-ethanol to said polymer solution followedby emulsification with a Waring blender results in a mixture that givesexcellent dyeing on wool which was superior to that obtained with acarboxy containing polymer having fewer carboxy groups, e.g., Carbopol934.

A number of well-known water-soluble carboxylated polymers which areknown in the prior art are useful in the present invention. Theseinclude the synthetic polymers, as well as polymers prepared fromnatural materials, e.g., cellulose. Water-soluble carboxylated (a)vinylic polymers, (b) polymeric amino acids, e.g., polyglutamic acid and(c) cellulosic derivatives, e.g., carboxymethylcellulose that have thecharacteristic described above for the carboxylated polymer may be used.

As illustrative of the water-soluble carboxylated vinylic polymers,there may mentioned the polyacrylic acid and the cross-linkedpolyacrylic acids. Typical among these are the products sold on themarket by B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company under the trademarksCarbopol-934, Carbopol- 940" and Carbopol-941" which are described inUS. Pat. Nos. 2,798,053; 2,912,358 and 3,027,303. Particularly useful isCarbopol-941 which is characterized by the fact that a 0.4 percentsolution of this polyacrylic acid polymer at pH 3.5 has a viscositybetween about 400 to 600 cps. and 10,000 at pH 7.0.

Also illustrative of the water-soluble carboxylated vinylic polymersthat may be used in accordance with the present invention, mention maybe made of ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymers. They are marketed underthe trademark EMA by Monsanto and available in a variety of molecularweights in linear and cross-linked form. Table ll below gives a list ofthe EMA polymers of this type that are useful for the present purposes.

On reaction with water the EMA resins give clear solution as the resultof hydrolyses of the anhydride. These resulting polymers possessvincinal carboxylic acid groups and accordingly, are acidic in nature ofpH; e.g., 2.5 for a 1 percent solution.

In their hydrolyzed form, the uncross-linked resins may be expressed bythe general formula:

TABLE lll Polymer Concentration Viscosity (cps.)

Gantrez AN-l l9 5% solution l5 cps. (low viscosity) Gantrez AN-l39 5%solution cps. (med. viscosity) Gantrez ANl69 5% solution 200 cps. (highviscosity) In their hydrolyzed form, these resins may be expressed bythe general formula:

wherein n is from 1,600 to 16,000.

As noted above, another class of water-soluble polymers that are usefulfor the purposes of this invention are the watersoluble carboxylatedcellulose derivatives. Chief among these is carboxylated cellulosederivatives. Chief among these is carboxymethylcellulose having theabove specified characteristics. Similarly, other carboxyalkyl cellulosederivatives, e.g., carboxyethyl cellulose, carboxypropyl cellulosehaving the desired characteristics may also be employed.

Similarly, polymeric amino acid having free -COOH groups are alsosuitable for use in accordance with the present invention also providingthey have the characteristics outlined above, i.e., (a) soluble inwater, (b) stable at the acid pl-ls. (c) are capable of suspending thealcohol of limited water-solubility in the aqueous composition. By wayof specific illustration, polyglutamic may be mentioned. Thepolyglutamic acid polymer is made by the method of Brian G. Overell andVladimir Petrov, Journal of Chemical Society, 232 1955) bypolymerization of b-benzyl derivative of the N-carboxy-anhydride ofglutamic acid. Here the range of n values are n=35 to n=200, wherein nis the number of monomeric units.

The amount of carboxylated polymer that may be used in compositions ofthe present invention may vary somewhat. In general, however, they willconstitute about 0.1 to 2.0 percent by weight of the total composition.

Although applicants do not want to be bound by any theory of operationof their invention, it is their view supported by the evidence that thehigh-dyeing efficiency obtained in accordance with the present inventionis a result of a unique interaction between the hydroxylated organicsolvent and the carboxylated polymer, the effect of which is to enhancethe dye penetration of the fiber. The specific nature of the polymersolvent interaction is believed to be one involving the hydrogen bondingbetween the carboxy groups of the polymer and the hydroxy group of theorganic alcoholic solvent. The alcohol containing the dissolved dye iscomplexed with the carboxylic acid polymer which is dissolved in theaqueous phase. in this fashion the dye is maintained in emulsion formhomogeneously distributed throughout the aqueous phase.

When the emulsion compositions of the present composition are applied tohair, the alcoholic solvent droplets containing the dye have an affinityfor the hair and become arranged along the longitudinal axis of thefiber. The individual droplets then coalesce into larger drops whicheventually form a continuous coating along the hair fiber. Although onan overall basis, the dye is employed in relatively low concentrations,at the point of application to the hair fiber, the dye is present inrelatively high concentrations within the individual solvent dropletThis serves to give relatively high-intensity dyeings.

It is a feature of the present invention that the compositions disclosedherein will serve to simultaneously groom and color the hair. Thesecompositions are adapted to be applied on a regular daily basis withoutthe necessity of removing them from the hair a short time afterapplication. They are designed to gradually impart to the hair thedesired color over a period of time which may be 1 or 2 weeks. Theyparticularly are suitable for covering the gray hair in men through thedaily application of the material as a hair groom. This lends itself toa continuous process which would take care of new growth of gray hairthat develops.

With regard to this aspect of the invention, the compositions may alsocontain other agents commonly found in hair grooming compositions whichare compatible with the system and purpose of these compositions. Thus,other compatible grooming agents, gloss imparting agents, antidandruffagents, bactericidal agents, etc., which do not interfere with theprimary coloring function of the compositions may be employed.

The compositions of this invention can be made using the usual emulsionformation techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, forexample the dyes are first dissolved in the alcoholic solvent. Thealcoholic dye solution is then added to the aqueous solution containingthe water-soluble carboxylated polymer and, where desired, a surfactant.This mixture is subjected to a high-shear mixing operation to form theoil-in-water emulsion.

To test the effectiveness of the compositions of this invention, in theexamples below, 1 gm. samples of mixed hair percent gray hair and 20percent dark brown) was treated three times with 0.5 gm. of theparticular composition being tested. The material is combed through thehair at ambient temperature and the hair sample is allowed to dry. Thiswas re peated three times with 0.5 gm. of product to simulate 1 to 2weeks of normal daily application to living hair. The effect of thistreatment is reported in the particular example below relating to theproduct in question.

The following examples are further illustrative of this invention. It isto be understood, however, that the invention is not limited thereto.

EXAMPLE 1 A composition was prepared having the following percent byweight of ingredients:

C.l. Acid Black 131 Carbopnl 941 Benzyl Alcohol Deionized Water qs.

An intense gray, fast to washing, was obtained on hair sample treated asdescribed above after three applications.

EXAMPLE 2 A composition was prepared having the following percent byweight of ingredients:

C.l. Acid Brown 44 C.l. Acid Black l3l Cl. Acid Yellow l2? See ColorIndex I963 Supplement,

page -6 00.03% Benzyl Alcohol 10.00% Deionized Water qs. l00.00% GantrezAN 0.40%

Gantrez AN-ring alkylated PVP (GAF Co.).

A medium drab brown, fast to washing, was obtained on a hair sampletreated as described above after three applications.

EXAMPLE 3 A composition was prepared as in example 1 excepting thatcarboxymethylcellulose is used in place of Carbopol 941. Similar resultsare obtained.

EXAMPLE 4 A composition was prepared having the following percent byweight of ingredients:

C.l. Acid Black 48 (C.|. 65005) 00.08% C]. Acid Brown 44 00.077: BenzylAlcohol l0.00% EM A-8l 0.40% Deionized Water qs. l00.00%

EMA-8| (Monsanto) -cthylene-maleic anhydride copolymer.

A warm, brown, fast to washing, was obtained on a hair sample treated asdescribed above after three applications.

EXAMPLE 5 A composition was prepared having the following percent byweight of ingredients:

(.l. Acid Black 48 (Cl 65005) 00.25% Benzyl Alcohol 50.007: Carbopol 94]0.40% Sodium lauryl sulfate ether 00.20; Deionized Water qs. l00.00%

An intense brown/black, fast to washing, was obtained on a hair sampletreated as described above after three applications.

EXAMPLE 6 A composition was prepared as in example 4 above, exceptingthat in place of EMA-81, there is employed polyglutamic acid. Similarresults are obtained.

EXAMPLE 7 A composition was prepared having the following percent byweight of ingredients:

(.l. Acid Black I3] 003% lrgacet Black Rl. (Cl Acid Black l32), SeeColor Index I963 Supplement. page 5-l 23 0.02% Z-Phenylethanol 5.0%Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ether 0.l7r Carhopol 941 0.4'7r Deionized Water94.0%

A silver gray shade was imparted to the hair.

EXAMPLE 8 A composition was prepared having the following in- Water48.000-

A medium brown shade was imparted to the hair. Although the inventionhas been described with reference to specific forms thereof, it will beunderstood that many changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An oil-in-water emulsion composition capable of dyeing haircomprising a slightly water-soluble alcoholic organic solvent having atleast one free hydroxy group and a water solubility of from about 0.5 to5 percent, from 0.05 to 0.3 percent by weight of an acid dye and awater-soluble acid stable polymer containing an abundance of freecarboxy groups and capable of complexing said solvent and acid dyecontained therein, said composition having a pH in the range of about 3to 4, the internal oil phase ofsaid emulsion comprising said organicsolvent having distributed therein said acid dye; the aqueous externalphase containing said water soluble polymer; said organic solvent beingpresent in sufficient quantity so as to serve as a solvent for said aciddye; said water soluble polymer being present in sufficient quantity tocomplex said solvent and acid dye dissolved in said solvent whereby saiddye is maintained in emulsion form homogenously distributed throughoutthe aqueous phase.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said water-solublepolymer selected is capable of functioning as a hair-grooming agent.

3. The composition according to claim 2 wherein said alcoholic solventis of formula:

1'11 l r()t)ll it:

wherein R and R are hydrogen or alkyl; R is selected from the groupconsisting ofaryl, aralkyl, -O-alkyl; akylene-O-alkyl, alkyl-O-aryl inwhich the alkyl groups contain one to seven carbon atoms, the alkylenegroup has from two to nine carbon atoms and the aryl and aralkylmoieties have from six to 14 carbon atoms.

4. The composition according to claim 3 wherein said alcohol is offormula:

climnon inwhichnis 1 or2andpis0or l.

5. The composition according to claim 2 wherein said water-solublepolymer is a carboxylated vinylic polymer.

6. The composition according to claim 5 wherein said carboxylatedvinylic polymer is a polyacrylic acid polymer.

7. The composition according to claim 5 wherein said carboxylatedvinylic polymer is a hydrolyzed copolymer of ethylene and maleicanhydride.

8. The composition according to claim 5 wherein said carboxylatedvinylic polymer is a hydrolyzed copolymer of methyl vinyl ether andmaleic anhydride.

9. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the alcohol is benzylalcohol.

10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein said benzyl alcoholconstitutes between about 10-20 percent by weight ofsaid composition.

11. The composition according to claim 10 wherein said benzyl alcoholconstitutes 10 percent by weight of said composition.

12. The composition according to claim 11 wherein the water-solublepolymer is a carboxy containing poly-acrylic acid.

13. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the alcohol isB-phenylethanol.

3 ,6 3 O ,65 4 9 all 14. The composition according to claim 2 whereinthe al- 16. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said solcoho]is v-phenyl propanol. vent is present in the range of from about 5percent to 40 per- 15. The method for simultaneously grooming andcoloring cent y weight and said P y is P in the range of from hair whichcomprises applying thereto the composition of about mzpercem by weightofthe composmonclaim 2.

2. The composition according to claim 1 wherein said water-solublepolymer selected is capable of functioning as a hair-grooming agent. 3.The composition according to claim 2 wherein said alcoholic solvent isof formula: wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or alkyl; R3 is selected fromthe group consisting of aryl, aralkyl, -O-alkyl; alkylene-O-alkyl,alkyl-O-aryl in which the alkyl groups contain one to seven carbonatoms, the alkylene group has from two to nine carbon atoms and the aryland aralkyl moieties have from six to 14 carbon atoms.
 4. Thecomposition according to claim 3 wherein said alcohol is of formula: inwhich n is 1 or 2 and p is 0 or
 1. 5. The composition according to claim2 wherein said water-soluble polymer is a carboxylated vinylic polymer.6. The composition according to claim 5 wherein said carboxylatedvinylic polymer is a polyacrylic acid polymer.
 7. The compositionaccording to claim 5 wherein said carboxylated vinylic polymer is ahydrolyzed copolymer of ethylene and maleic anhydride.
 8. Thecomposition according to claim 5 wherein said carboxylated vinylicpolymer is a hydrolyzed copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleicanhydride.
 9. The composition according to claim 2 wherein the alcoholis benzyl alcohol.
 10. The composition according to claim 9 wherein saidbenzyl alcohol constitutes between about 10-20 percent by weight of saidcomposition.
 11. The composition according to claim 10 wherein saidbenzyl alcohol constitutes 10 percent by weight of said composition. 12.The composition according to claim 11 wherein the water-soluble polymeris a carboxy containing poly-acrylic acid.
 13. The composition accordingto claim 2 wherein the alcohol is Beta -phenylethanol.
 14. Thecomposition according to claim 2 wherein the alcohol is Nu -phenylpropanol.
 15. The method for simultaneously grooming and coloring hairwhich comprises applying thereto the composition of claim
 2. 16. Thecomposition according to claim 1 wherein said solvent is present in therange of from about 5 percent to 40 percent by weight and said polymeris present in the range of from about 0.1 to 2 percent by weight of thecomposition.